Africa-Press – Seychelles. More than 10,000 people are expected to converge on La Digue for the Feast of the Assumption, more commonly known as Lafet La Digue, this weekend.
After a two-year absence, the festivities this year start tomorrow, Friday August 12 and will end on Monday August 15, the actual date of the Feast of the Assumption.
Representatives of the Seychelles Police, Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA), Seychelles Coastguard (SCG) and Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) met with the media yesterday to brief the public on the logistics put in place for this event.
There will be various activities this weekend on La Digue and people are expected to come from Praslin and Mahé starting tomorrow, August 12.
Superintendent Jean Toussaint from the police shared that the Seychelles Police has its operational plan in place and there are command points at all levels; not only on land but also at sea.
“The public need to understand that the Seychelles Police has mobilised maximum assets possible and officers from different units – Marine Police, Dog Unit – on Mahé who will participate in the La Digue operation. We will have jet skis available on La Digue and they will operate for rescue purposes only. As the police station on La Digue is quite small, the Seychelles Police has also put in place additional facilities to retain offenders engaged in any criminal action.”
The marine police will also be patrolling together with the Seychelles Coast Guard and will be fully engaged in covering the whole event on La Digue.
Captain Joachim Valmont, the chief executive of SMSA, explained that all activities that happen on the sea fall under the SMSA. “For this event, we started preparing the logistics quite early and we set up a committee including all stakeholders and the Fire Services and Life Guard Services and Disaster Risk Management Division. From the meetings, we were able to set up all patrol points. We will use a fast response boat in the vicinity of Ste Anne to check on the boats leaving Mahé for Praslin and La Digue.”
The second check post will be based in the bay of Baie Ste Anne and there also SMSA will be equipped with a fast response boat. Another boat from Marine Police will be placed in the bay of Côte d’Or and another Coast Guard boat will be at La Passe, La Digue with a zodiac attached to it to intervene if there is a need.
Captain Valmont also shared that on August 4 they issued a marine notice informing all seafarers, boat owners, boat operators and visitors that in view of the continued adverse weather condition, restriction is being placed on the operation and use of all vessels under 7 metres in length from Friday August 12 to Tuesday August 16 using any routes to and from the Inner Islands inclusive of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. The restriction is also applicable to the use and operation of water scooters (jet skis) and speed boats.
Masters and skippers are reminded that it is a requirement to notify the SPA on VHF Channel 16 or on mobile number 2722448 before departing from any destination.
Ronny Alcindor, port facility security officer from the SPA, added that like every year before, the SPA is sending more staff to La Digue to help control the movement of boats.
“Six people will be there and as from August 11 (today), we will start controlling the movement of vehicles at the La Digue jetty. Only emergency vehicles – ambulance and police – will be allowed to access the jetty. SPA will also control the movement of boats/yachts so that they do not dock by the jetty.
Regarding the SCG, Captain Samuel King added that three boats will be helping during the event and their main responsibility will be to reinforce the regulations put in place by SMSA. “We will intercept the boats to see if they are in conformity with safety rules. All boats have to have all their safety gear including flares. With the assistance of the Marine Police, if we catch any skipper under the influence of alcohol, they will be referred to the authority.
Altogether there will be some 50 people on the sea and land provided by the Seychelles Coast Guard to make sure people are safe.”
SP Toussaint warned the public that if they are seen consuming alcohol in public they will be fined and he is asking for the public’s cooperation in that matter.
“Have fun in a responsible and respected manner. No one wants to get involved in a police case because of an action done while having fun. The other warning is for those who are leaving their house, please make sure it is secured and do not make it easy for opportunists to break into your house.”
Captain Valmont concluded by saying no matter how many rules and regulations there are, at the end of the day all responsibility lies with each individual. “I would like to call on everyone travelling by boat to La Digue to take your responsibility and please use your life jacket if you are travelling in smaller boats and do not forget to inform the authority when going out to sea and use bigger boats for your own safety.”
After two years, many people are looking forward to the La Digue’s Feast of the Assumption. The Ministry of Health has been communicating about safety measures and posters have been placed on La Digue. Remember we still have Covid around, therefore stay safe.
For this event, the Seychelles Police have added two phone lines – 4238151 and 4238152 – for anyone needing assistance. There is also the emergency lines 999 and 133.
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